The Territory

Territory

North Sardinia is characterised by alternating and ever-changing natural scenery, from wonderful beaches and high cliffs looking over one of the most beautiful seas in the world, to important pinnacles of rock and rare, typically Mediterranean woods. Among the environmental beauty spots in North Sardinia, first place is given to the coastal marine reserves and above all the smaller islands. The national park of Asinara, since it was given up by the state penitentiary administration, is the destination of many visitors who can admire the wonderful landscape along with the typical endemic fauna of the island. In the other national park of the La Maddalena island group there is an efficient boat service with which tourists can visit the famous beaches of the smaller islands, especially the “pink beach”. Other marine reserves such as the island of Tavolara near Olbia and Capo Caccia near Alghero are worth noting. The latter is part of a much larger natural environment which includes the important nature reserve of Arca di Noè at Porto Conte. Still within the Capo Caccia reserve we can see one of the most important natural monuments in Sardinia: Neptunes caves which can be visited by land or by sea. In Palau there is the well-known rock of Capo d’Orso shaped by atmospheric agents, while near Agius there is Monte Pulchiana, the largest granite monolith in Sardinia. The petrified forests of Anglona and especially those at Carrucana near Martis are also worth a visit.

Cultural Heritage

In order to fully appreciate and taste the delicacies of Sardinia along the “Road to Flavour” it is a good idea to stop from time to time and admire the signs left from history and cultural tradition. The past has left us with extraordinary traces of ancient civilizations which have succeeded each other on the island: the Neolithic domus de janas from the times of the rich and lively Ozieri Civilisation; the impressive nuraghe, the monumental giant’s tombs, the exclusive holy wells, a sign of the flourishing civilization which developed on the island during the Bronze Age.
The medieval period with the happy era of small independent kingdoms known as ‘Giudicati’ which has left us wonderful Romanesque churches.
Also worth a mention is the University of Sassari which celebrated its 444 years in 2006.

Museums

You can admire the archaeological remains found during digs in the several museums in the area. The National Archaeological Museum in Sassari is the most important with its vast display of exhibits which range from the Paleolithic to the Medieval ages.
Another important museum, above all of the Roman age is the Antiquarium Turritanum in Porto Torres, next to the archaeological site.
The national Museum in Olbia mainly exhibits the wonderful vandalic period ships found near the old harbour. Other smaller local and often thematic museums can be found in Perfugas (with a paleo-botanic section), Viddalba, Padria, Ittireddu, Bonorva, La Maddalena (dedicated to roman ships), Torralba and Ozieri.

Monuments

THE PRE-NURAGIC ERA

The Province of Sassari is mainly characterized by a high concentration of prehistoric funeral hypogea: known as “domus de janas” (fairy houses). Near Alghero there is the necropolis of Anghelu Ruiu (38 tombs), the biggest in Sardinia. The necropolis of Mesu ‘e Montes and S’Adde Asile in Ossi are to be noted for the intricacy of their bass relief ornaments. There are also important complexes in Sos Furrighesos- Anela, Su Crucifissu Mannu- Porto Torres, Ponte Secco- Sassari, Puttu Codinu- Villanova Monteleone, Santu Pedru- Alghero,. In Gallura there are several dolmen, the most important of which are at Luras. Also of great importance are the great altar (almost a ziqurrat) at Monte d’Accoddi, between Sassari and Porto Torres, the fortified village of Monte Baranta- Olmedo and the dolmen of Sa Coveccada- Mores.

THE NURAGIC ERA

North Sardinia boasts the presence of the most magnificent and interesting nuragic complex: Santu Antine-Torralba. The other nuraghe worth a mention are Palmavera-Alghero (with a large village of huts), Voes-Nule, Burghidu-Ozieri, Appiu-Villanova Monteleone, Majori-Tempio, La Prisciona-Arzachena, Cabu Abbas-Olbia. From a burial point of view, worth a visit are the giants’ tombs at Arzachena (Coddu Vecchiu and Li Lolghi), Olbia (Su Monte de S’Ape), Palau (Li Mizzani), S.Teresa di Gallura (Lu Brandali). The religious aspect is well represented by the holy wells of Canopoli-Perfugas, Irru-Nulvi, Sa Testa-Olbia and the complex of Sos Nurattolos-Alà dei Sardi.

THE PHOENICIAN-PUNIC AND ROMAN ERA

The Roman age has left the north of the island with several remains especially along the coast. The remains of the ancient colony of Turris Lybisonis, in Porto Torres are remarkable, especially the spa buildings; the only intact roman bridge left in Sardinia can be found here. At Porto Conte near Alghero, excavations have brought the remains of a magnificent villa to light, another important coastal villa has been found at Santa Filitica between Sorso and Castelsardo. The remains of an ancient Phoenician-Punic and Roman town at Olbia are also remarkable, especially the necropolis, and a good part of the roman aqueduct is still visible. Other fragments of roman bridges can be found in Ozieri, Ittireddu and Fertilia (Alghero), the latter was restored in medieval times.

THE MEDIEVAL

Medieval times have left Sardinia with monuments of great beauty and importance. Numerous castles from the judicial and Catalan-Aragonese periods are distributed in a capillary manner all over the area, from the coast to the most inland areas. Worth a mention are those of Castelsardo, Burgos, Olbia (castle “Pedreso”), Osilo, Casteldoria (S. Maria Coghinas) and Monteleone Roccadoria. Alghero stil preserves its sea wall and several towers from the city walls. Also in Sassari, there is part of the ancient walls and some towers. Among the large number of coastal towers, those at Porto Torres, Santa Teresa Gallura and La Pelosa (Stintino) are the most important. The splendid Romanesque churches, built on the island between the 11th and 14th centuries are particularly interesting. The following churches are well worth a visit: San Gavino-Porto Torres, Trinità di Saccargia-Codrongianos (with medieval frescoes), San Michele di Salvenero-Ploaghe, San Pietro di Sorres-Borutta, Sant’Antioco di Bisarcio-Ozieri, Santa Maria del Regno-Ardara (with a wonderful altar piece) , San Simplicio-Olbia, Santa Maria di Tergu, San Pietro delle Immagini-Bulzi, San Nicola di Silani-Sedini. In Sassari there is the Cathedral of San Nicola of Romanesque origins (seen in the belfry), with its beautiful Baroque facade, the church of Santa Maria di Betlem (from the second half of the 13th century), the oldest in the city and the church of San Pietro di Silki, which was founded in the 13th century.

TRADITIONS AND CRAFTS

Surrounded by wonderful scenery, where nearly every corner or angle is itself a natural monument, there is an extremely rich heritage of traditions (in particular crafts, popular and religious festivals) all different but all linked by the same remote origins which sometimes date back to prehistoric times and ancient methods which are still maintained in traditional crafts such as weaving, pottery, woodwork, metalwork and jewellery.

POPULAR TRADITIONS AND FESTIVALS

In the wide range of popular Sardinian traditions, religious rituals are by far the most important. One of the most significant and heartfelt moments is the ritual of Holy week, in particular in Alghero. Another popular event in Lunissanti (Easter Monday) which is held in Castelsardo and Tergu, animated by members of the confraternity. In the Sassari area, people are particularly devoted to the “turritani” martyrs (Gavino, Proto and Gianuario). These martyrs are celebrated between may and June in Porto Torres. In Olbia, one of the biggest events is ”Sa Festa Manna de mesu Maju” on the 15 May in honour of San Simplicio.
Another remarkably popular festival is devoted to San Costantino at Pozzomaggiore in which the famous “Ardia”, a horse race, is run. Among the celebrations devoted to the breaking of ancient vows, the most important is the descent of the “candelieri “in Sassari (la Faradda), which takes place on 14 August and is organised by cooperative associations called “gremi”: eight ornately decorated heavy wooden columns are carried in processions along the streets of the old town. Similar processions are made in Nulvi (14 August) and Ploaghe (15 August). Among the non religious folk events there is the Cavalcata Sarda in Sassari (May): a parade of traditional costumes from allover the island. One cannot forget Carnival time: the most important being in Tempio Pausania with a procession of satirical floats.

TRADITIONAL CRAFTS

The roots of traditional Sardinian crafts date from the Island's distant history. One of the most ancient arts is pottery, now mostly artistic, with workshops found mainly in Sassari. The art of basket weaving also has remote origins: in Castelsardo, there is a much admired workshop and museum. Textile making in wool, cotton and linen of carpets, wall-hangings, cushions and curtains is still carried out in many places, especially in Nule but also Villanova Monteleone, Bonorva and Aggius. The most traditional very refined. gold jewellery is in filigree. The best gold workshops are in Sassari, Alghero and Arzachena. In Alghero, there are also several coral laboratories. Carpentry lays a particular emphasis on furniture, particularly carved blanket boxes. Traditional carpenters can be found in Sassari, Buddusò, Tempio Pausania and Alghero. As far as metalwork is concerned, traditional knives ( the so-called “Pattadesi”) are mostly made in Pattada.